English: a Subject which Knows No Bound by Eric

English: a Subject which Knows No Bound by Eric - October 2016 Scholarship Essay

It was clear: I was obsessed. Standing in the library as a third grader, I would devour book after book like that of candy. My teachers had a difficult time holding my attention due to my eagerness to take on the next three-hundred-page book of Ronald Dalph or Lois Lowry. I was the "Accelerated Reader king," given the title due to my involvement in a program that awarded points to students who took exams on grade-level novels. Such a love for literature has manifested itself in more sophisticated ways in my contemporary life, such as taking rigorous literature classes at a local university. In fact, my ultimate decision to become a real estate attorney finds in roots in literary analysis. My love for literature and dictionary studies has shaped my outlook on myself and the world, so bestowing this love to others in the form of teaching English would be a rewarding experience.
Understanding connotation, or the feeling behind a word beyond its dictionary definition, is quite important in both writing and daily conversation. For example, one would not use the word "stench" to describe the scent of a pleasant flower. Instead, it is more universal to describe such as "fragrant" or "sweet-smelling." In a world of misconception, it is quite important, across all forms of communication, to formulate words as to not offend and to get an ideal point across effectively. In teaching students how to do this in their writing in particular, I feel I could reinforce in myself a love and importance of constructing diction properly, all while shaping the language use - and interpretation beyond what is on the page - of my students.
I believe those whom immerse themselves in literature have a wider view of the world, as they constantly are exposed to the thoughts, opinions, and experiences of countless characters. Instead of forcing my students to read, I would rather let them - through my excitement - experience and find a love for themselves. The subject of English has something for everyone. For the logical minds, there are the expository rules of grammar and mechanics; for the minds filled with wonder, there is creative writing. In my classroom, I would encourage the students to really look at the characters - how they are feeling, the conflict, their relationships - and sympathize with them. Literature was created to assist the reader in recognizing other points of view, so in the real world, they could do the same. To see this come to fruition would be quite a pleasure in my teaching experience.
The study of English in its entirety - grammar, mechanics, literary analysis, and rhetorical composition - serves as a subject that introduces the learner how the world works. Imaginary characters with fictional conflicts become real people with real problems. Experts in rhetoric become some of the nation's best attorneys and politicians. Those who analyze a literary piece with finesse go on to be great pioneers in human relations; they are able to connect with the human voice. English is definitely a subject that keeps on giving, and to instill such a gift to young scholars would be no less than an occupation that keeps on giving.